NOTES BY TERROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 42

NOTES BY TERROR.

— The detailed report of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club show of last week, printed elsewhere in this 1 issue, being very full, a few fcrief remarks from my point of view will doubtless satisfy my readers. First of all, with regard .to the dog section, notwithstanding the l-fact that the number of entries was satisfactory I must admit that, like many other fanciers, I was, greatly disappointed with the- quality of most of the classes, and also at the non.-appearance of representatives of some of the leading kennels strongly in evidence in former yeajrs —notably, Mr Ward's St. Bernards, Messnrßrodie and Dunlop's and Mr E. BrWillianis's spaniels and Mr Hayne's cdllies.. I-am sufficiently well acquainted with these gentlemen to know thatf' they are all fanciers from the best point of view —i.e., the merely mercenary motive has no weight with them: they breed purely for the love of their pets and the interest they find in the pursuit of breeding. Why, then, did not these fanciers and others whom I

might mention avail themselves of last "week's local show? I say " local " because in respect to two of the fanciers referred to, and others .not named, they sent exhibits to several of this year's shows farther afield. I have a 'strong suspicion that if last year's promise on the part of members of the committee had been fulfilled — to provide outside judges this year — there would have been no ground for my present complaint. It is sincerely to be hoped that- next year's committee will take this question into serious consideration and remcrve the only impediment which apparently exists to prevent the Dunedin fixture being what it ought to be — viz., the premier show ! of New Zealand. I would here correct' an error appearing in the report of the show relative to Mr W. C. Thompson's collie slut Maid. This dog won two 3rds and a 2nd. Maid Is the slut I referred to some months back as being sired by Helvellyn, the Invereargill winning dog last year, out of a Captain bitch, and the fact that she — from a half -working strain — stood so well in company with Mr Rogea's cracks speaks volumes to the credit of Mr James Lilico's breeding. Unfortunately she was very shy in the ring, otherwise. l understood the judge to remark that he would have placed her ' higher in the Wtch claes. I would strongly recommend her owner to choose the very best sire obtainable for her first litter. There need be no fear as to the satisfactory ' disposal 'of the progeny of a really good alliance.